Citizens Report on Habitat and Populations of the Salish Sea

November 9th

Whatcom County, WA: RE Sources for Sustainable Communities announces an upcoming educational forum on habitat and wildlife in the Salish Sea and Cherry Point. The forum will be held Saturday, November 9th from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Bellingham Technical College. It is free and open to the public.

Regional experts will address what we know about intertidal habitat and bird populations in the larger Salish Sea, and then will focus down to Cherry Point, highlighting some of the recent data collected by the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve Citizen Stakeholder Committee.

Dr. Megan Dethier, research professor at the University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories, will give a presentation on the intertidal habitat in the Salish Sea and Cherry Point beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Dr. John Bower, professor at the Western Washington University Fairhaven College, will present on bird populations in the Salish Sea and Cherry Point at 12:30 p.m.

The forum will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Bellingham Technical College, Building G, Room 102J. Participants are encouraged to register by October 30th. Anyone can register by e-mailing bkintern@re-sources.org or calling (360)733-8307. Light refreshments will be provided, and participants can order lunch with their registration, or bring their own sack lunch.

The forum is be hosted by the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve Citizen Stewardship Committee, a group of volunteers dedicated to educating the community about our Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve. The Committee organizes citizen science projects to collect accurate data on intertidal habitats and bird populations within the Reserve.

The Committee is supported by the Washington Environmental Council (WEC) and RE Sources for Sustainable Communities (RE Sources).

WEC is a non-profit statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to protect, restore, and sustain Washington’s environment.

RE Sources for Sustainable Communities is a non-profit sustainability organization founded in 1982. RE Sources promotes sustainable communities and protects human and environmental health through application of science, education, advocacy and action. Our vision is to see people living satisfying lives in accord with the ecosystem we depend on – generation after generation. RE Sources’ North Sound Baykeeper program is charged with reducing water pollution, protecting and improving aquatic habitat.

For more information, visit www.re-sources.org. To register, e-mail bkintern@re-sources.org or call (360)733-8307.